Batteryless flashlight



March 31, 1942. w, ALEXANDER v 2,277,897

BATTERYLES S FLASHLIGHT Filed Sept. 11, 1941 I Z 7706?? Z07 PatentedMar. 31, 1942 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE BATTEBYLESS FLASHLIGHT GeorgeW. Alexander, Boston, Mass.

Application September 11, 1941, Serial No. 410,414

(01. flit-10.5)

3 Claims.

My present invention relates to flashlights and more particularly tobatteryless flashlights which are operated by spring motors.

In my present invention, I have designed a batteryless flashlight havingan intermittent main drive. This main drive energizes a generator drivespring which maintains the generator rotor in continuous motion as longas the finger release button is held down, or until the main spring ofthe main drive mechanism has run down which may be of considerableduration depending upon the design of the mechanism. The action of theflashlight is practically instantaneous, and after the main spring ofthe main drive has been unwound, it is possible to rewind it again veryquickly to repeat the cycle.

Theutility of such a device is quite apparent as it is readily seen thatsuch a device may be used under conditions where it may be impossible toobtain the conventional dry batteries, or under conditions where drybatteries would deteriorate quickly.

It will thereforebe seen that the principal ob- Ject of my improvedbatteryless flashlight is to provide a continuous moving generator thewill be apparent as the description of the same Fig. 3 is a fragmentarydetail cross-section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, III indicates the casing. ingeneral being made up of the two broad sides II and I2, and the othersides I 3 and It. A bottom side l5 connecting with the sides and a topIt also connecting with the sides complete the casing Hi. In the top I6is located a lens |1 back of which is located a conventionalincandescent lamp, the details of which are well known to the trade.

Journalled in the sides H and H of the casing III are three shafts |3,l9 and 20. Shaft I8 I have referred to, as the generator shaft to whichis fixed a pinion 2|. Shaft is the main drive shaft, one end of which isprovided with a sunken key member 22 being rotatably mounted in thesunken portion 23 of the side H of the casing l0. Around the shaft 2|!is located a main drive spring 24. one end of said spring 24 beinganchored to the bottom l5 of the casing Hi, the other end being fixed tothe shaft 20. In Fig. 2, I have shown the shaft end of the spring brokenoff for convenience. At 25, I have indicated a ratchet gear. Thisratchet gear 25 is also fixed to the shaft 20. Adjacent the ratchet gear25,

is the main driving gear 26 on the side of which is pivoted a pawlmember 21 adapted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet gear 25. Aspring 21 is fixed in a pin 29 located in the side of the main drivegear 26 for the purpose of maintaining the pawl 21 in engagement withthe ratchet teeth of the ratchet gear 25. The gear 26 is free on theshaft 20 when the spring 24 is being wound up but when the key 22 isreleased the ratchet gear drives the said gear 28, in the directionshown in Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrow.

On the shaft I9 is located a pinion gear 30 which is fixed to the shaft39. Adjacent the pinion 30 and also fixed to the shaft I 9 is amutilated gear 3| and drum 32. It will be noted that the drum 32 isprovided with a slot 33 into which engages a pivoted dog lever 34. Thedog lever 34 is mounted on a spring 35 fixed in an extension pin 38fixed to the casing side l2. When the dog lever 34 is in 9. releasednormal position the hooked end 31 is out of the drum slot 33 at whichtime the mutilated gear 3| is free to rotate and be driven, in thedirection indicated, by the drive gear 26. The drum slot 33 is sopositioned with respect to the mutilated gear 3| that when the hookedend 31 of the lever 34 is therein engaged the mutilated portion 33 iscentered below the generator shaft pinion 2|, as shown in Fig. 2. Inthis position, it will be apparent that the pinion 2| may rotate freelywithout interfering with the said mutilated gear 3|. To the righthandside of the pinion 2| is located a square nut 33 which is horizontallyslidable between the guide members 4|! which are fixed to the side l2,the central portion of the nut 39 being threaded on the generator shaftl8, as indicated at 4|. It will thus be seen that when the shaft 4| isrotated in either direction the nut 39 will slide in or out between theguide members 43. Stop pins 42 and 43 are provided on the shaft |3 ateither side of the nut 39 to provide a limit of movement of the nut onthe said shaft l3. A horizontally disposed pin. 44 is located in theside of the nut 39 having another pin located thereon at ninety degrees,as indicated at 45. Alsolocated in the shaft. I3 is a pin 43 which isadapted to engage against the side of the pin 45 when the shaft I3 isrotating counter-clockwise, as shown in Fig. 2 The purpose of the pin 43is to stop the pinion 2| in position wherein the teeth will be in properposition to engage with the teeth on the mutilated gear 3| at the-propertime.

On the side of the mutilated gear 3|,-I have located a spring lever 41.The spring lever 41 engages the dog lever 34 just before the mutilatedportion 33 of the gear 3| centers under the pinion 2| thereby bringingthe hooked end 31 of the lever 34 into engagement with the periphery ofthe drum 32 and engaging the. hooked portion 31 in the slot 33 of thedrum 32. At this point the horizontal pin 44 in the nut 39 slides behindthe upper end of the lever 34, as shown in Fig. 2.

Fixed to the generator shaft I3 is a spiral flat spring 43 which in allrespects is similar to the main drive spring 25. One end of the spring43 is fixed to the shaft l3 and the other end is fixed to the post 49attached to the side I2.

Also fixed to the shaft |3 are the two ratchet gears 50 and The ratchetgear 53 is engaged by the hooked end 52 of the push button lever 53which is pivoted at 54 to the side l2, the push button portion 54 beinglocated in the recessed portion 55 of the side H. A flat spring 56maintains the hooked portion 52 of the lever 53 in engagement with theratchet teeth of the member 53.

The rotor 51 of the generator 53 is freely journalled on the generatorshaft l3. Attached to the right-hand side of the rotor 51 is a springpawl member 59 which engages with the ratchet teeth of the ratchet gear5| which is fixed to the shaft l3, the ratchet teeth of the ratchet gear5| being pitched in the same direction as the teeth on the gear 53. Therotor 51 is capable of rotating freely on the shaft |3 in direction ofthe arrow when the ratchet gear 5| rotates in an opposite direction orwhen it is at rest.

In operation, the main drive spring 24 is wound up by means of thesunken key 22, the dog lever 34 maintaining the mutilated gear 3| in theposition shown in Fig. 2.

In the initial stage of operation, the generator shaft spring 43 will bein wound condition when the dog lever 34 is in the position shown inFig. 2. In this position the push button lever is as shown in Flg.'2,the hooked end 52 engaging the teeth of the ratchet gear 53 therebypreventing the generator shaft l3 from rotating. In the position abovedescribed, the flashlight is ready to operate.

To operate the flashlight, the push button 54* is depressed immediatelyreleasing the ratchet gear 53. The ratchet gear 53 being fixed to theshaft I! instantly starts rotating in the direct on of the arrow shownin Fig. 2. Due to the fact that the spring pawl 59 is engaged againstthe teeth of the ratchet gear 5| also fixed to the generator shaft I3,the other end of which is fixed to the rotor 51 of the generator. therotor is spun on the generator shaft I! at high speed.

As the generator shaft I8 rotates, the nut 39 feeds to theright-handside, as viewed in Fig. 1, and when the pin 44 on the nut 33mov from under the upper end of the dog lever 34 the spring 35 pulls thehooked end 31 out of engagement with the slot 33 in the drum 32 therebyreleasing the mutilated gear 3| which is driven by the main drive spring24. At this point the rotor 51 has been driven at high speed in thedirection of the arrow by means of the wound up generator shaft spring43. The pin 43 on the generator shaft |3 limits the motion of the nut 33to the right and stops the rotation of the shaft [3 but the spring pawl59 connecting the rotor 51 with the stopped ratchet gear 5| continues torotate over the ratchet teeth thereby allowing the rotor to rotatefreely on the shaft I3. The generator 58 furnishes electrical'current toilluminate the incandescent lamp of the device in the conventionalmanner.

Assuming that the release button 54 is maintained in a depressedposition, and the-nut pin 44 has been withdrawn from behind the lever34, as aforesaid, the mutilated gear 3| under pressure of the main drivespring 24 engages the teeth of the fixed pinion 2| and rotates in thedirection of the arrow shown in Fig. 2 thereby rotating the pinion 2| ina reverse direction winding up the drive shaft spring 43. During thisoperation, the nut 39 moves to the left-hand side, as viewed in Fig. 1.When the spring membet; 41 located on the side of the mutilated gear 3|contacts the right-hand side of the dog le ver 34 just before a completerevolution has been made, the hooked end 31 bears against the peripheryof the drum 32 and when the drum regains the position shown in Fig. 2,the hooked end 31 drops into the drum slot 33 thereby stopping themovement of the mutilated gear 3|. Just before the hooked end 31 of thelever 34 drops in the drum slot 33, the nut pin 44 is ready to slideunder the upper end of the lever 34 and actually slides under this leverwhen the lever drops into engagement with the said slot 33.

Located on the nut pin 44 is a right-angled projecting pin 45, and onthe generator shaft I3 is a pin 43. .These two pins are provided for thepurpose of stopping the pinion 2| in an approximate position such thatthe pinion teeth will be located in the right position with respect tothe teeth on the mutilated gear 3| for proper engagement when themutilated gear is released for another revolution,

So long as the button 54 is maintained in a depressed position thisoperation will be continued until the main spring 24 has been unwoundand its energy expended, the generator drive shaft spring 49 beingre-energized from time to time, and the rotor 51 being continuouslydriven in the direction of the arrow.

It is to be understood that the generator shaft spring 48 is very muchlighter than the main spring 24, but it should also be understood thatthe generator shaft |8 is freely journalled in the casing l0 so thatwhen the button 54 is depressed and the ratchet; gear 53 is releasedinstant movement is imparted to the rotor 51 of the generator therebyproducing instant light in the conventional incandescent lamp, and whenthe shaft and ratchet gears 50 and 5| are stopped, the momentum set upin the rotor 51 continues to rotate it at high speed until the nextimpulse is furnished by the rewound spring 43.

It will also be apparent that by releasing the button 54, the ratchetgear50 is immediately stopped thereby discontinuing further motion ofthe geared mechanism or rotation of the generator shaft Hi. In suchposition the flashlight is ready for instant operation at any time. Alsothe main spring 24 may be of powerful design to the effect that with onewinding, the flashlight can be operated over a considerable period oftime as the generator shaft spring 48 .can be energized many times withone winding of the main spring 24. I

It is also to be understood that while I have shown the apparatussomewhat in detail with respect to certain portions yet I may vary theconstruction within certain limits as to mechanical design, or suchlimits as to better coincide with shop practice, etc., without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. An improved batteryless flashlight comprising in combination, acasing having a flashlight 'lens located on one'end and a windingkey andrelease button located in the sides thereof, a main drive springattached to a main drive shaft both of which are fixed to said windingkey, a ratchet member fixed to said ma n drive shaft and a main drivegear journalled on said main drive shaft, a'ratchet pawl member pivotedto the said main drive gear and engaging against said ratchet member, amutilated gear located in said casing being driven by said ma n driveshaft gear, a drum fixed to said mutilated gear on one side thereof, thesaid drum having a slot located across the face thereof, an electricgenerator located in said casing being freely journalled in its rotorportion on a generator drive shaft, a ratchet; gear fixed to saidgenerator drive shaft, a spring pawl member attached to the side of saidrotor, one end of said rotor pawl engaging ratchet teeth on saidgenerator shaft ratchet casing "and having a hooked end engaging withratchet teeth located in the face of said generator drive shaft ratchetmember, a spring lo cated around said generator drive shaft, one end ofsaid generator shaft spring b ing anchored to said generator shaft andthe other end being anchored to said casing, a pinion fixedto saidmember, a release button lever pivoted in said generator drive shaftengaging with said mutilated gear when said mutilated gear is inposition to engage with said pinion, a s ide member threaded tosaid-generator drive shaft and having a stop pin located in its sidefacing said pinion, the said slide member being threaded on the saidgenerator drive shaft, 9. dog lever pivoted in said casing having ahooke end located over the face of said mutilated gear drum,- a springlever fixed to said mutilated gear for the purpose of engaging said doglever, and depressing its hooked end into engagement with the slotlocated in its face and thereby raising the opposite end of the said doglever for the purpose of engaging the slide member stop pin thereunder,means for positioning the said generator drive shaft pinion with respectto said mutilated gear located on said generator shaft and-saidslidemember stop pin.

2. An improved batteryless flashlight comprising in combination, acasing having an incandescent lamp located in one end and electricallyconnected with a generator, 2,- generator shaft journalled in saidcasing, a generator rotor-freely Journalled on said shaft, a ratchetmember fixed on said'shaft, a pawl attached to said rotor and engagingwith said ratchet member, a spiral spring located around said shaft oneend being fixed to said shaft and the other end being anchored to saidcasing, a pinion fixed on said shaft, a slidable nut member located insaid casing and threadablyengaged with said shaft, stop members locatedon said nut and said shaft, a mutilated gear Journalled on a secondshaft pivoted in said casing the said mutilated gear engaging with saidpinion during a portion of one revolution of said gear being out ofengagement with said pinion in its mutilated area, a slotted drumattached to said mutilated gear being rotatable with said second shaft,a main spring and gear drive engaging with a pinion fixed to saidmutilated gear, a pivoted lever located in said casing one end engagingwith the slot of said slotted drum, the said lever end being normallyout of engagement, a spring lever attached to said mutilated gear andengaging against said pivoted lever for the purpose of engaging saidlever with said drum when the mutilated portion of said gear is adjacentthe said, pinion on the said generator shaft, one end of "said pivotedlever engaging one of the stop members when the said nut moves to oneside of said generator shaft, a pivoted push button pawl lever normallyengaging with the ratchet member located on said generator shaft.

nected incandescent lamp mounted in said casing, a reversible generatorshaft located in said casing and a generator rotor freely journalled onsaid generator shaft, a spring attached to said a generator shaft forthe purpose of driving said rotor in one direction, a ratchet memberfixed to said generator shaft for the purpose of holding said generatorshaft spring in a wound condition, a pawl engaging said ratchet memberhaving one end attached to said generator rotor for the purpose ofdriving said rotor when said ratchet is free to be driven by saidgenerator shaft spring, a threaded nut located on said generator shaftbeing slidable in said casing, a generator shaft drive pinion fixed tothe generator shaft for the purpose of winding said generator shaftspring when the said mutilated gear is in engagement with said pinion, adog lever pivoted in said casing having one end engageable with aslotted member located on said mutilated gear, said dog lever membernormally being disengaged with the said slotted-member, a lever locatedon said mutilated gear for the purpose of engaging said dog lever withsaid slotted member when the mutilated portion of said mutilated gear isadjacent the said generator shaft pinion, stop members located on saidnut and shaft for the purpose of stopping said generator shaft andholding said dog lever in engagement with said mutilated gear slottedmember, a push button pawl release member engaging with said ratchetmember.

GEORGE W. ALEXANDER.

